Jailed DCE Is A Hero � Minister

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Aquinas Tawia-Quansah, has described the recently jailed District Chief Executive (DCE) for Twifo Atti-Morkwa (TAMDA), Mr Bossman Osei Hyiamang Jnr, as a hero who sacrificed himself for the development of his people. �I am proud that the honourable DCE did not go to jail because he misappropriated state funds or engaged in any underhand dealings. He went to jail because of Ghana,� he said. Mr Osei was jailed 14 days by the Cape Coast High Court for contempt of court.e was released from jail last Saturday, October 11, 2014 after serving his sentence, and reported for work on Monday. Addressing members of the assembly at the regional budget hearing for district assemblies at Twifo- Praso in the Central Region,the Minister said � I see such people as heroes but not villians.� He said the DCE�s 14-day incarceration was an �occupational hazard,� which every politician must be ready to face, adding that anyone who feared such hazards was not qualified for such positions. On the domestic front, the minister said the government recognised the challenges in the economy and had initiated some solid decisions to reverse the situation in the 2014 Mid-Year Review Budget. Mr Tawiah-Quansah recalled the successful third Eurobond of $1 billion issued by the government, which was largely oversubscribed, as well as the COCOBOD Syndicated loan of $1.7 billion. He further mentioned the current engagement with the IMF for a programme, all of which, he said, had reduced the short-term pressure on Ghana�s international reserves and also positively affected the appreciation of the cedi.He urged the participants to take prudent measures to reduce the high budget deficit. The minister announced some structural reforms, which included the rationalisation of public sector staff, continuation of the policy of net freeze on employment in some sectors of the public services, payroll audit and electronic system payment voucher (E-SPV) to reduce the incidence of �ghost� names on the government payroll. Mr Tawia-Quansah challenged the metropolitan,municipal, and district chief executives(MMDCEs) to strictly supervise employees in their respective districts to assist the ministry remove all �ghost� names from payrolls and control the wage bill. �We need concerted efforts at all levels of government to resolve the challenge that faces us,� he said. -